Frequently Asked Questions
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1. When is the Irish 3/4 Marathon being held in 2024?
Sunday, 6th October 2024 – 3 weeks before Dublin City Marathon
2024 Race Entries Are Now Open HERE
Race starting time is 10.00 am
Car Parks Open at 7.45 on Sunday morning – Please don’t arrive at Car Parks before then.
2. What races are being held?
The only race being held is a 3/4 Marathon road run – Distance is 19.664 miles or 31.646 km
3. Where is the Irish 3/4 Marathon Based?
Our race is based in Longwood, near Enfield, Co Meath – Location & course map HERE
This is an easy 30 mins drive from Dublin / M50 & M7 and 50 Mins from Athlone
PLEASE Carpool to minimise parking needs & travel costs – Car Parks Open at 07:45
Driving Directions to Longwood are HERE
From South & East access is via Enfield (Via M4 or R148) – Go west from Enfield for ~3km on R148 (Direction Kinnegad) & take right turn for Longwood (5km)
Turn left at roundabout entering village and follow signs to parking and race sign on
From West go towards Enfield on R148 from Kinnegad ( Exit M4 or M6 motorways at Kinnegad)
Take left turn at big white house ~3km after Clonard and follow road to Longwood village
Follow signs to parking which is about 500m from race sign on
From North approach Longwood from Navan / Trim on R160
Go straight at roundabout entering village and follow signs to parking and race sign on
Please Car Pool – Priority Parking at Race HQ for cars with 2+ runners only.
4. What is the route for the 2024 Irish 3/4 Marathon event?
2024 Route for the Irish 3/4 Marathon is shown HERE
Starts on tarmac at the GAA Grounds.
Race Sign On & Race HQ / Finish are at Longwood Village Hall which is ~500m from GAA grounds
Total climb over the 19.6 mile/ 31.6 km route is only 77m which is just under 3/4 of the climb in DCM
2024 Irish 3/4 M Route
5. When do I collect my race number?
Race sign-on will be on Saturday evening between 5pm – 8pm and on race day between 8.00am – 09.30am.
Race sign-on will close promptly at 09.30am
Race Sign on and race parking shown below
6. Will there be race finisher medals or memento?
A medal will be given to finishers displaying a valid race number, who cross the line within the event’s time limit of 4hr 30mins.
7. What is the 2024 Race Top?
2024 Details will be announced closer to the Race Date.
This fabric is made with polyester obtained entirely from recycling used plastic bottles. Sublimation printing used as guarantees breath ability and does not increase the weight of the garment. This tee will have flat seams, anti-scratch printed label and be light, soft to touch and super fast drying.
8. Is the race distance certified?
Yes – Race distance has been measured accurately using a Jones Counter and certified by an AAI trained & accredited course measurer.
Exact placement of intermediate km & mile markers is not certified and are for your general information only.
9. Will chip timing be used?
Yes – Chip timing will be used to ensure accuracy of race results.
Individual split timing will be provided at each 1/4 marathon point in final results.
10. Are there elite entries available?
A limited amount of elite entries will be made available – Please e-mail us with your elite entry request before 1st Sept 2024
Half-marathon standard required for elite entry consideration is sub 70 minutes for men and sub 80 minutes for women or similar.
11. What happens when I enter online?
Your card details will be processed and debited for the entry fee amount.
You will receive a booking confirmation e-mail.
Please bring your photo ID & Booking Confirmation (Printout or on phone) to race registration to collect your race number with timing chip attached, race top, etc.
12. Do I get a refund or deferment if I can’t run?
No – Sorry, we are unable to provide a refund for this event
No refunds will be made after the event also.
13. Can I transfer my number if I can’t run?
No – We do not permit transfers or refunds for this event.
Please Do Not allow anyone else to run with your number. Allowing someone else to use your number in this manner is unfair to those who missed out on the entry limits. This also means you are not covered by our 3rd party insurance which is vital for this event to take place on the public roads and to utilise privately owned land for parking etc.
It also adversely effects the results service we can provide with our timing partner. In the past it has given us incorrect results which has effected category results etc., so please “Play Fair & Comply With Conditions Of Entry”
If you allow someone else to use your number in this manner then you will not be allowed to enter future events.
14. Will the course be marked?
The route will be clearly marked and marshalled.
There will also be signs at each approximate km & mile intervals FYI
These signs positions are for your information / general assistance only and accuracy is not guaranteed.
At each 1/4 marathon point Split Timing will be provided to give you chip timed results including 1/4 marathon splits.
15. Can I leave my car key or bag?
We recommend that you keep your vehicle key & valuables on your person
A small bag drop area (This area is uncovered) will be provided by the race organisers for those who have no access to vehicles on the day but be aware that peak time delays are likely to occur in this area.
Items left in this area are to be labelled with your race number before handing in – We will provide labels.
Cars Keys will not be accepted
Although every effort will be made to keep this area secure, the race organisers will not accept responsibility for items left in this area.
16. Where will water stations be located & what will be provided?
2024 Plans:- Water stations will be provided at 4 locations along the route as well as the finish
Station # 1 (approx 4 mile/ 6.3km)
Station # 2 (approx 8.2 mile/ 13.2km )
Station # 3 (approx 12.7 mile/ 20.3km)
Station # 4 (approx 16.3 mile/ 26km)
Station # 5 (finish area)
Please help minimise our event’s litter impact by refilling your own bottle.
If you take one of our reusable cups of water please put it in one of the cup collection bins close to the water station when empty.
All rubbish should be placed in one of the bins along the route.
Please either dispose of your gel / bar wrappers in a bin along the route or keep on your person for disposal at finish/ at home
Do not drop rubbish on road. Please Be Considerate – How would you like your roadway, garden or field littered with someone else’s rubbish?
17. Where will the toilets be located?
Toilets will be provided at the race start/finish area. There will also be 2 toilets provided close to each water station.
18. Are changing facilities provided?
We hope to provide limited basic changing facilities in the GAA club on a first come first served basis.
19. Where will the First Aid stations be located?
Meath Civil Defence personnel will be providing first aid
Ambulance and support vehicles will be on hand for the duration of the race.
IMPORTANT :- Please complete the Medical Information details on the back of your Race Number prior to the event.
20. When will the results be available?
We will process results as soon as possible after race finish.
We aim to have a text issued that afternoon with your provisional result and have provisional results online by Sunday evening.
21. When can I find previous Irish 3/4 Marathon results?
Our 2016 -> 2019 Results from Longwood are at below links:
2019 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE
2018 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE
2017 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE
2016 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results Here
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The 3/4 Marathon was held from 2010 to 2015 on an undulating course near Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath
2015 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
2014 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
2013 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
2012 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
2011 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
2010 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here
22. Will pacemakers be used?
We intend to provide pacemakers for the course to aid inexperienced participants use this as the ideal marathon preparation event.
Pacers will be running at approx 105% of the 3.00, 3.30, 4.00 and 4.30 Hour MARATHON Pace.
We’re pacing 5% slower than your marathon pace to make sure you don’t empty the tank on this event which should be treated as preparation race for DCM.
Pacing (Allowing for 5% over MP) will be based on the following:
– 3:00 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 2:22 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 4′ 28″ /km = approx. 7′ 13″ /mile
– 3:30 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 2:45 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 5′ 13″ /km = approx. 8′ 24″ /mile
– 4:00 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 3:10 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 6′ /km = approx. 9′ 40″ /mile
– 4:30 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 3:33 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 6′ 44″ /km = approx. 10′ 50″ /mile
Please identify and join an appropriate pacing group at the race briefing at Race HQ at 9.40am
23. Are Earphones / Music devices banned?
We strongly request that you do not use personal music devices for safety of you, other participants and other road users
All Roads are open to vehicular traffic at all times so use of headphones is inherently dangerous so please don’t do it!
This is not something we can actively monitor and we appreciate your co-operation to maximise race safety for all.
24. Is there a race cut off time?
Yes – The Irish 3/4 Marathon course will officially after 4 1/2 hours
We will allow maximum of 1hr 30′ for each section (1/4 marathon) of the course to be completed.
i.e. You must have passed the first 1/4 marathon point by 11.30 and the 1/2 marathon point by 13.00
We will also have a cut-off at ~19.8km mark at 12.50 which allows 2 hours 50 mins to reach this point (Avg ~8 mins 35″ pace)
Anyone reaching this point after this time will be directed to take a shorter route (~5.3km shorter) to the finish with the remainder of the competitors
This is sufficient time for someone to jog/ walk the course at a 6 hour marathon pace, so we feel this is appropriate in balancing the needs of participants, marshals, road users and residents along the race route.
Walkers are welcome to participate if they are confident of meeting these cut-off times.
Race signage, refreshment stations, marshals and timing equipment will be removed in accordance with this schedule.
25. Who is organising the event?
Bear Races is the Irish 3/4 Marathon race organiser.
2024 will be the 13th running of this 3/4 Marathon event
We look forward to welcoming you to Longwood for our Irish 3/4 Marathon on Sunday 6th October 2024
26. Who can I contact for further help?
Please check these FAQs and the rest of the website for the answer to any query.
If your query is not answered here or for urgent matters please e-mail: races@bearevents.ie